2024-08-30 17:28:18
Dubai: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the country’s government on Tuesday there was “no obstacle” to negotiating with its “enemy,” signaling an opening for fresh talks with the United States over his country’s rapidly expanding nuclear program. Khamenei’s comments set the scope for any negotiations under the government of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and reiterated his warning that the United States cannot be trusted.
However, his comments are similar to those made during Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with various countries. Under the deal, Iran agreed to slow down its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Despite Khamenei’s remarks, it is unclear how much leeway Pezeshkian will have, especially when tensions remain high in the wider Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war and the US prepares for its presidential election in November.
Khamenei said- do not expect anything from the enemy
“We should not place our hopes on the enemy. We should not wait for the approval of our enemies for our plans,” Khamenei said in a video message broadcast on state television. “It is not contradictory to engage in negotiations with the same enemy in some places, there is no obstacle to it,” he said.